Designation: D 16 00

Standard Terminology for

Paint, Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 16; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

abrasion resistance, n (for coatings)the ability of a coating

to resist being worn away and to maintain its original
appearance and structure when subjected to rubbing, scraping, or wear.
D 968, D01.23
acid number (coatings)the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide (KOH) required to neutralize the free acids
in 1 g of an oil, resin, varnish, or other substance; generally
reported on the nonvolatile content.
acid value see acid number.
acrylic resinunder resin, synthetic, see acrylic resin.
additive, na substance added in small quantities to another
substance, usually to improve properties; sometimes called a
modifier (for example, a drier, mildewcide, etc.).
adhesion promotersmaterials built into the binder or added
to the paint to form primary bonds to either the substrate or
the previously applied coating with the specific aim of
improving the dry or wet adhesion, or both.
alkyd resinunder resin, synthetic, see alkyd resin.
architectural coatingscoatings intended for on-site application to interior or exterior surfaces of residential, commercial, institutional or industrial buildings.
asbestossee industrial talc and industrial talc, nonasbestos type.
associative thickenerwater soluble polymers containing
hydrophobic groups that are capable of nonspecific hydrophobic association similar to surfactants that elevate viscosity presumably by association between thickener particles or
thickener and dispersed particles that may be present in the
aqueous system such as latex particles rather than through
high molecular weight or chain stiffness of the thickener
molecules themselves.
autodepositiona single-step immersion metal finishing process in which an organic coating is applied by means of
unique surface chemical reactions carried out in an aqueous
latex dispersion, also referred to as chemiphoresis. Components within the bath give rise to chemical reactions that
slightly solubilize the metallic surface and lead to destabilization, deposition, and coalescence of the dispersed latex
particles at that surface.

DISCUSSIONThe deposition rate of the latex is controlled by the rate

of surface solubilization. The process does not require any pretreatments such as phosphating, needs no external energy input, and gives
rise to deposition wherever the solution wets the substrate. Irregularly
shaped parts can be uniformily coated.

baking finisha paint or varnish that requires baking at

temperatures above 150F (65C) for the development of
desired properties.
baking temperaturea temperature above 150F (65C).
batchthe total quantity of a material produced in a single
final mixing operation after all production processes are
complete, or just prior to filling.
bituminous varnish under varnish, see bituminous varnish.
bleedingthe diffusion of coloring matter through a coating
from the substrate; also, the discoloration arising from such
diffusion. In the case of printing ink, the spreading or
running of a pigment color by the action of a solvent such as
water or alcohol.
blistering resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to
resist the formation in the film of dome-shaped, liquid- or
gas-filled projections resulting from local loss of adhesion
and lifting of the film from the previously applied coating or
the substrate.
blocking, nsticking of a coated surface to an adjacent
surface when the two surfaces have been in contact with
each other for an extended period of time. D4946, D01.42
brush-drag, nresistance encountered when applying a coating by brush, directly related to the high-shear viscosity of
the coating.
D4958, D01.42
bulking valuesolid volume of a unit weight of material,
usually expressed as gallons per pound. For practical purposes this is 0.120 divided by the specific gravity.
caulking compounda soft, plastic material, consisting of
pigment and vehicle, used for sealing joints in buildings and
other structures where normal structural movement may
occur. Caulking compound retains its plasticity for an
extended period after application. It is available in forms
suitable for application by gun and knife and in extruded
preformed shapes.
cellulose lacquer see lacquer.
chalking resistance (coatings)the ability of a pigmented
coating to resist the formation of a friable powder on its
surface caused by the disintegration of the binding medium
by degradative weather factors.

1
These definitions are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-1 on Paint
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and are the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee D01.16 on Definitions.
Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Published September 2000. Originally
published as D 16 11. Last previous edition D 16 98b.

Copyright ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

D 16
g/mL, kg,L, g/cm3, g/L, kg/m3 or lb/gal. See specific
gravity.
D01.23, D01.24

checking resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to

resist slight breaks in the film that do not penetrate to the
previously applied coating or to the substrate. The breaks
should be called cracks if penetration extends to the previously applied coating or to the substrate. See cracking
resistance.
chipping resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating or
layers of coatings to resist removal, usually in small pieces,
resulting from impact by hard objects or from wear during
service.
coatinga liquid, liquefiable or mastic composition that is
converted to a solid protective, decorative, or functional
adherent film after application as a thin layer.
color of an objectthe aspect of the appearance of an object
dependent upon the spectral composition of the incident
light, the spectral reflectance or transmittance of the object,
and the spectral response of the observer.
hue, nThe attribute of color perception by means of which
a color is judged to be red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
purple, or imtermediate between adjacent pairs of these,
considered in a close ring, red and purple being an adjacent
pair. (White, gray and black colors possess no hue). E 284

DISCUSSION(1) g/mL = kg/L = g/cm3; g/L = kg/m3. (2) Density

(lb/gal) = Density (g/mL) 3 8.345405 ... (3) The temperature should be
25C for best conformance with Test Method D 1475. For liquids and
solids, which are the usual concerns of Committee D-1, the pressure
need not be specified. (4) Density of water at 25C = 0.997044 g/mL =
8.32 lb/gal.

dirt (coatings)see soil.

dirt resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to resist
soiling by foreign material, other than microorganisms,
deposited on or embedded in the dried coating.
distinctness-of-image glossthe sharpness with which image
outlines are reflected by the surface of an object.
dopea composition, usually a cellulosic lacquer, for application on textiles and leathers.
driera composition that accelerates the drying of oil, paint,
printing ink, or varnish. Driers are usually metallic compositions and are available in both solid and liquid forms.
drying oilan oil that possesses to a marked degree the
property of readily taking up oxygen from the air and
changing to a relatively hard, tough, elastic substance when
exposed in a thin film to the air.
durabilitya relative term indicating degree of permanency.
It may be applied to individual protective, decorative, or
functional properties, for example, the durability of gloss,
but if used in a general way, for example, the excellent
durability of a paint, implies the ability of the described
coating to retain, to the indicated degree, all the properties
required for the continued service of the coating.
edge-tracking (coatings)a residual, discernible pattern in a
roller-applied coating characterized by trails from either or
both ends of the roller.
efflorescence, na condition that occurs when soluble salts in
a dry coating or the substrate migrate to the surface due to
the movement of water through the film; characterized by a
(commonly) white, nonuniform powder or crystalline incrustation, not removable with neutral water but usually removed
with dilute mineral acid.
D1736, D1848, D01.42

DISCUSSIONThe short end of the spectrum is violet, with purple by

definition being a nonspectral combination of red and violet. The
practice of replacing violet by purple in the roster of object colors is
apparently a practical accommodation to color-order requirements, as
described in the Munsell system. See Practice D 1729.

lightness, n (1) The attribute by which a perceived color is

judged to be equivalent to a member of a series of grays
ranging from black to white. (2) The attribute of color
perception by which a non-self-luminous body is judged to
reflect more or less light.
E 284
saturation attribute of a visual sensation that permits a
judgment to be made of the proportion of pure chromatic
color in the total sensation.
E 284
contrast ratioratio of the reflectance of a dry paint film over
a black substrate of 5 % or less reflectance, to the reflectance
of the same paint, equivalently applied and dried, over a
substrate of 80 % reflectance.
coverage, coverage rate, covering power ambiguous terms
that are used in some instances to refer to hiding power and
in others to mean spreading rate. The precise terms hiding
power and spreading rate are preferred.
cracking resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to
resist breaks of the film where the breaks extend through to
the surface painted and the previously applied coating or the
substrate is visible. The use of a minimum magnification of
10 diameters is recommended in cases where it is difficult to
differentiate between cracking and checking. See checking
resistance.
crawling, ndefect in which the wet film recedes from
localized areas of the substrate (usually caused by insufficient wetting) leaving those areas uncoated.
D 1848,
D01.42
curtainingsee sag or sagging.
density, nThe mass per unit volume of a substrate at a
specified temperature and pressure; usually expressed in

DISCUSSIONThe previously water-soluble salts become insoluble at

the surface of the film due to reaction with carbon dioxide of the air.

emulsion paintunder paint, see emulsion paint.

enamela paint that is characterized by an ability to form an
especially smooth film.
erosion resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to
withstand being worn away by chalking or by the abrasive
action of water or windborne particles of grit. The degree of
resistance is measured by the amount of the coating retained.
See abrasion resistance.
ester gumunder resin, synthetic, see ester gum.
extended pigmentsorganic pigments diluted with an extender (for example, alumina trihydrate, blanc fixe, or
calcium carbonate).
facade painta decorative and protective coating for exterior
masonry surfacesusually for buildings and walls.

D 16
to hide or obscure a surface to which it has been uniformly
applied. When expressed numerically, it is generally in terms
of the number of square feet over which a gallon of paint, or
pound of pigment, as used, can be uniformly spread to
produce a specified contrast ratio (see contrast ratio). The
term covering power has no specific relationship to hiding
power, and actually has no precise meaning.
hueunder color of an object, see hue.
hydroxyl numberthe number of milligrams of potassium
hydroxide (KOH) equivalent to the hydroxyl content of 1 g
of sample.
impact tester, na device for dropping a cylindrical weight
from a variable height onto a coated metal test panel; the
greater the height required to produce cracks in the coating,
the greater its impact resistance.
D2794, D01.23
industrial talca mineral product varying in composition
from that approaching the theoretical formula of talc, Mg
3Si4O10(OH)2, to mixtures of talc and other naturally associated minerals, some of which may be fibrous as defined in
ASTM Definitions D 2946, Terms Relating to Asbestos.
These fibrous minerals may or may not be asbestos.
industrial talc, nonasbestos typeindustrial talc of which
less than 2 particles per 100 particles (by light microscopy)
are asbestos fibers, where asbestos fiber is defined as being
both a fiber by Definitions D 2946 and one of the asbestiform varieties of serpentine, riebeckite, cummingtonite
(which are chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite, respectively),
anthophyllite, tremolite, or actinolite. The nonasbestiform
varieties of these same minerals are not asbestos.
intumescent coatinga fire-retardant coating (which see) that
when heated forms a foam produced by nonflammable gases,
such as carbon dioxide and ammonia. This results in a thick,
highly insulating layer of carbon (about fifty times as thick
as the original coating) that serves to protect the coated
substrate from fire.
japana varnish yielding a hard, glossy, dark-colored film.
Japans are usually dried by baking at relatively high temperatures.
japan, a vehicle for japan colors; frequently contains
shellac.
japan colora paste containing pigment and a grinding japan
vehicle used for lettering and decoration.
japan driera resinate-base liquid drier.
lacquera coating composition that is based on synthetic
thermoplastic film-forming material dissolved in organic
solvent that dries primarily by solvent evaporation. Typical
lacquers include those based on nitrocellulose, other cellulose derivatives, vinyl resins, acrylic resins, etc.
lakea special type of pigment consisting essentially of an
organic soluble coloring matter combined more or less
definitely with an inorganic base or carrier. It is characterized generally by a bright color and a more or less pronounced translucency when made into an oil paint.

DISCUSSIONThis is a term more commonly used in Europe.

fillera pigmented composition for filling the pores or irregularities in a surface preparatory to application of other
finishes.
fire-retardanta descriptive term which implies that the
described product, under accepted methods of test, will
significantly: (a) reduce the rate of flame spread on the
surface of a material to which it has been applied, or (b)
resist ignition when exposed to high temperatures, or ( c)
insulate a substrate to which it has been applied and prolong
the time required to reach its ignition, melting, or structuralweakening temperature.
filiform corrosion resistance (coatings)the ability of a
coating to resist that type of corrosion of metal substrates
characterized by a definite thread-like structure and directional growth that occurs under coatings.
finish(1) final coat in a paint system; at the termination of
cure or drying ( 2) sometimes refers to the entire coating
system: the texture, color, and smoothness of a surface, and
other properties affecting appearance.
fire-retardant coatinga coating that will do one or more of
the following: (1) reduce the flame spread on the substrate
over which the coating is applied, sometimes at the sacrifice
of the coating (see intumescent coating);
( 2) resist ignition of the substrate when exposed to high
temperature; or
(3) insulate the substrate to which the coating is applied
and thereby prolong the time required to reach its ignition,
melting or structural-weakening temperature.
flaking resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to resist
the actual detachment of film fragments either from the
previously applied coating or the substrate. Flaking is
generally preceded by cracking, checking, or blistering and
is the result of loss of adhesion. Also known as scaling
resistance.
flatting agenta material added to paints, varnishes, and other
coating materials to reduce the gloss of the dried film.
forced drying temperaturea temperature between room
temperature and 150F (65C).
fossil resinunder resin, natural, see fossil resin.
gallon, U. S.a volume equal to 231 in. 3 For paint, varnish,
lacquer, and related products this is measured at 77F
(25C).
glazea very thin coating of a paint product usually a
semi-transparent coating tinted with Van Dyke brown, burnt
sienna, or a similar pigment, applied on a previously painted
surface to produce a decorative effect.
glazing compounda dough-like material consisting of pigment and vehicle, used for sealing window glass in frames.
It differs from putty in that it retains its plasticity for an
extended period.
grain, nan inch-pound unit of weight, equal to 0.002285
avoirdupois oz (0.0648 g).
CED
grinding japansee japan, grinding.
gritthe coarse foreign particles in paint materials and coatings, often of irregular shape, that are hard, abrasive, and
resistant to disintegration.
hiding powerthe ability of a paint, or paint material as used,

Under this term are included two (and perhaps three) types
of pigment: (a) the older original type composed of hydrate of
alumina dyed with a solution of the natural organic color, (b)
the more modern and far more extensive type made by
precipitating from solution various coal-tar colors by means of
3

D 16
appearance, also known as blotching.
D1848, D01.42
mud-cracking, , nan irregular broken network of cracks in
the film, which occurs due to volatile loss while drying or
curing.
D1848, D01.42
natural resinsee resin, natural.
natural spreading ratethe spreading rate that occurs when
a coating is applied in a manner natural to the operators
technique, perceptions, and expectations, as they relate to
coating tools, substrate, and characteristics of the coating
itself.

a metallic salt, tannin, or other suitable reagent, upon a base or

carrier either previously prepared or coincidently formed, and
(c) a number combining both types in varying degree might be
regarded as a third class.
lap (coatings) the region where one area of a coated surface
merges into an adjacent freshly-coated area during application of a single coat to the entire surface.
DISCUSSIONThe objective of the painter is to avoid showing the lap.

latex paintunder paint, see latex paint.

leveling, n(1) the process whereby a film of liquid coating
flows out after application so as to minimize any surface
irregularities such as brush marks, orange peel, peaks, or
craters, that have been produced by the mechanical process
of application. (2) a measure or rating of the leveling ability
of a coating.
D4062, D01.42
lightnessunder color of an object, see lightness.
maleic resinunder resin, synthetic, see maleic resin.
liquid(flammability regulations) a substance that has a definite volume but no definite form, except such given by its
container.7 It has a viscosity of 1 3 10 3 to 1 3 103 St
(1 3 10
to 1 3 101 m2 s1) at 104F (40C) or an
equivalent viscosity at agreed upon temperature. (This does
not include powders and granular materials.) Liquids are
divided into two classes:
Class A, low viscositya liquid having a viscosity of
1 3 103 to 25.00 St (1 3 107 to 25.00 3 10 4 m2s1) at
104F (40C) or an equivalent viscosity at an agreed upon
temperature.
Class B, high viscositya liquid having a viscosity of 25.01
to 1 3 10 3 St (25.01 3 104 to 1 3 10 1m2 s1) at 104F
(40C) or an equivalent viscosity at an agreed upon temperature.
mar resistance, n(1) ability of a coating to resist visual
damage caused by light abrasion, impact, or pressure. (2)
resistance of the surface of the coating to permanent deformation resulting from the application of a dynamic mechanical force.
D5178, CED, D01.23
mass colorthe color, when viewed by reflected light, of a
pigment-vehicle mixture of such thickness as to obscure
completely the background. Sometimes called over-tone or
mass-tone.
mass-tonesee mass color.
melamine resinunder resin, synthetic see melamine resin.
metal marking resistancethe ability of a coating to withstand streaking or marking when a metal object is rubbed
against or dragged across the surface of the coating.
MFFTabbreviation of minimum film forming temperature.
mildew (fungus) resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to resist fungus growth that can cause discoloration and
ultimate decomposition of a coatings binding medium.
mildewstata chemical agent that inhibits the growth of
mildew.
mohair paint roller covera cover in which the paint
applicating material is woven of short pile velour that
contains wool or angora goat hair.
mottling, vtthe presence in the surface of a film, of irregularly shaped, randomly distributed areas that vary in color,
gloss, or sheen, causing the film to be non-uniform in

DISCUSSIONSuch a spreading rate can vary widely with the same

paint applied under similar conditions by different operators, but a
series of paints applied by different operators under the same conditions
will tend to have approximately the same rank order.

nondrying oilan oil that does not of itself possess to a

perceptible degree the power to take up oxygen from the air
and lose its liquid characteristics.
nonvolatile contentthe portion of a coating that does not
evaporate during drying or curing under specified conditions, comprising the binder and, if present, the pigment.
(The percent volatile content is obtained by subtracting the
nonvolatile content from 100.)
nonvolatile vehiclethe liquid portion of a paint excepting its
volatile thinner and water.
OEM coatingsoriginal equipment manufacturers coatings,
which include automotive, marine, furniture, appliance, as
well as many other miscellaneous consumer and industrial
applications.
oil coloran oil paint containing a high concentration of
colored pigment, commonly used for tinting paint.
oil paintunder paint, see oil paint.
oil varnishunder varnish, see oil varnish.
opacitythe degree of obstruction to the transmission of
visible light.
In this sense opacity is a relative term, it being considered
that given a film sufficiently thin, in paint technology at least,
there is no absolutely opaque substance.
open timelength of time a coating remains wet enough to
allow for brushing-in at the laps; also called wet edge time.
over-tonesee mass color.
paint vbto apply a thin layer of a coating to a substrate by
brush, spray, roller, immersion, or any other suitable means.
paint n, general a pigmented coating. See coating.
paint n, specific a classification sometimes employed to
distinguish pigmented drying oil coatings (paints) from
synthetic enamels and lacquers.
emulsion paint a paint, the vehicle of which is an
emulsion of binder in water. The binder may be oil,
oleoresinous varnish, resin, or other emulsifiable binder.
latex painta paint containing a stable aqueous dispersion
of synthetic resin, produced by emulsion polymerization, as
the principal constituent of the binder. Modifying resins may
also be present.
oil painta paint that contains drying oil or oil varnish as
the basic vehicle ingredient.
paste painta paint in which the pigment is sufficiently
concentrated to permit a substantial reduction with vehicle
before use.
4

D 16
water painta paint, the vehicle of which is a water
emulsion, water dispersion, or ingredients that react chemically with water.
paint brusha paint application tool consisting of a flexible
brushing part composed of long filamentary material (brushing material) bound to a handle.

(c) roofinga rectangular pattern of ridges in a membrane over

insulation or deck joints;
(d) cement-asbestos shingles (on exposure fences)the darker color
of the coating on the perimeter due to carbonation of the edges (from
the carbon dioxide in the air).

pigmentthe fine solid particles used in the preparation of

paint or printing ink and substantially insoluble in the
vehicle. Asphaltic materials are not pigments except when
they contain substances substantially insoluble in the vehicle
in which they are used.
pigment volumethe percent by volume of pigment in the
nonvolatile portion of a paint or printing ink, as calculated
from bulking value and composition data. The letters PV are
commonly used as an abbreviation.
pinholessmall pore-like flaws in a coating that extend
entirely through the applied film and have the general
appearance of pin pricks when viewed by reflected light.
pinholing, nthe presence of a series of fine holes or voids in
a film.
D1848, D01.42
plasticizera substance added to paint, varnish, or lacquer to
impart flexibility.
primerthe first of two or more coats of a paint, varnish, or
lacquer system.
printing inka colored or pigmented liquid or paste composition that dries to a solid film after application as a thin layer
by printing machinery.
print resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to resist
taking on the imprint due to the pressure of another surface
placed against it.
puttya dough-like material consisting of pigment and vehicle, used for sealing glass in frames, and for filling
imperfections in wood or metal surfaces. See glazing compound.
resin, naturala solid organic substance, originating in the
secretion of certain plants or insects, which is thermoplastic,
flammable, nonconductive of electricity; breaks with a
conchoidal fracture (when hard); and dissolves in certain
specific organic solvents but not water.
fossil resin a natural resin of ancient origin usually found
in the earth.
resin, synthetica synthetic substance physically similar to
natural resin.
acrylic resin a synthetic resin made from derivatives of
acrylic acid.
alkyd resina synthetic resin made from polyhydric alcohols and polybasic acids; generally modified with resins,
fatty oils or fatty acids.
ester guma resin made from rosin or rosin acids and a
polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerine or pentaerythritol.
maleic resin a resin made from a natural resin and maleic
anhydride or maleic acid.
melamine resin a synthetic resin made from melamine and
aldehyde.
penta resinester gum made from rosin and pentaerythritol.
phenolic resin a synthetic resin made from phenols and
aldehydes.
styrene resin a synthetic resin made from vinyl benzene.
urea resina synthetic resin made from urea and an
aldehyde.

DISCUSSIONTypical types include designs for varnish, enamel, sash

and wall painting. They are manufactured in a range of shapes and
sizes.

paint brush bristlehair of the swine (for example: pig, hog,

boar), used in brushing material.
paint brush ferruleouter band that joins the brushing
material to the handle.
paint brush filamenta synthetic polymer extrusion used in
brushing material.
paint brush headbrush without the handle.
paint brush length clearalso called length out, the
exposed length of the brushing material from the ferrule to
the tip end.
paint brush thicknessmeasurement of the brushing material
across the narrow opening of the ferrule.
paint pada paint application tool consisting of short filamentary material usually bonded to a flat, resilient backing
connected to a handle designed to apply paint by a wiping
action.
paint rollera complete paint application tool consisting of a
roller frame and a roller cover designed to apply paint by a
rolling action.
paint roller corea structural tube that forms the base of the
roller cover to which paint applicating material is attached.
paint roller covera tubular sleeve consisting of a paint
applicating material secured to a core.
paint roller cover pile heightalso called nap length; the
length of the roller cover paint applicating material from pile
backing to pile face.
paint roller framea frame and handle assembly designed to
hold a roller cover.
paste paintunder paint, see paste paint.
pendulum hardness tester, na device for measuring the
hardness of a dry film, based on the damping time required
for a specified decrease in oscillation (swing) amplitude; the
shorter the damping time the lower the hardness. D4366,
D01.23
penta resinunder resin, synthetic, see penta resin.
phenolic resinunder resin, synthetic, see phenolic resin.
pickinga rolling up in the lap (see lap) when the previously
applied paint film is in a semisolid (gel-like) state of drying,
causing a tacky resistance to the brush or roller and resulting
in an unsightly nonuniform appearance in the final dried
film.
picture framinga perimeter thickness or color difference
(usually darker) relative to the rest of the painted surface.
DISCUSSIONThis problem could be due to various mechanisms:
(a) architectural paintsthe greater shear of a brush used around the
perimeter of a wall or ceiling compared to the lower shear of a roller
used on the rest of the wall or ceiling;
(b) industrial finishesthe flow of a finish during baking resulting in
the build-up of the coating on the edge of the substrate;

D 16
spar varnishunder varnish, see spar varnish.
spirit varnishunder varnish, see spirit varnish.
soilof coatings, disfiguring foreign materials such as dirt,
soot, or stain, other than microorganisms, deposited on or
embedded in a dried film of applied coating material; also
called dirt.
soilant, na discoloring substance with a dispersed color
component that is not in solution, and therefore can cling to
the surface of a coating without penetrating into the film.
D3450, D01.42

vinyl resina synthetic resin made from vinyl compounds.

roller spatter resistancethe ability of a paint to resist the
formation of various size droplets generated during paint
roller application, which results in undesirable spots splashing on areas that are not being painted including the person
applying the paint.
rust (coatings) the reddish material, primarily hydrated iron
oxide, formed on iron or its alloys resulting from exposure to
humid atmosphere or chemical attack. See white rust.
rust resistance (coatings)the ability of a coating to protect
the substrate of iron or its alloys from rusting.
sag or saggingnonuniform downward flow of a wet paint
film that occurs between the times of application and setting,
resulting in an uneven coating having a thick lower edge.

DISCUSSIONA soilant differs from a stain in that the colorant of a

stain is in solution and therefore can penetrate into the film.

solid(flammability regulations) a substance that has a viscosity greater than 1 3 103 St (1 3 101 m2s1) at 104F
(40C) or an equivalent viscosity at an agreed upon temperature. (This includes powders and granular materials.)
specific gravity, n( 1) ratio of the weight of a given volume
of substance to the weight of an equal volume of water. (2)
ratio of the density of a substance at a specified temperature
to the density of water. See density.
D01.23, D01.24

DISCUSSIONThe sags usually occur at a local, thick local area of a

vertical film and may have the characteristic appearance of a draped
curtain, hence the synonym curtaining.

saturationunder color of an object, see saturation.

scaling resistance ( coatings)See flaking resistance.
sealera liquid composition to prevent excessive absorption
of finish coats into porous surfaces; also a composition to
prevent bleeding (see size).
semidrying oilan oil that possesses the characteristics of a
drying oil but to a lesser degree. There is no definite line of
demarcation between drying and semidrying oils.
shadea term descriptive of a lightness difference between
surface colors, the other attributes of color being essentially
constant. A lighter shade of a color is one that has higher
lightness but approximately the same hue and saturation; and
a darker shade is one that has a lower lightness.
Primarily, the term shade is derived from shadow and
designates a change in appearance analogous to that produced
by a local reduction in illumination. It should, therefore, when
strictly used, express only the change toward a darker color.
Shade of a color has been defined by several authorities as the
mixture of black with that color, thus establishing its opposite
character to tint, but by extension of its relative sense it has
been frequently and widely used to include lighter shades by
use of the adjective lighter or paler. Although such
expressions apparently involve a contradiction, it is clear that
while we may have a shade of a color or darker color of the
same sort, it is easy to conceive of another shade not quite so
dark and therefore lighter.
sheepskin paint roller covera cover in which the paint
applicating material is wool fleece still attached to its tanned
natural skin.
sizeusually a liquid composition to prevent excessive absorption of all paints into plaster, old wall paint, and similar
porous surfaces; also a liquid composition used as a first coat
on metal to improve adhesion of succeeding coats (latter
usage is limited to the metal decorating industry).
The terms sealer and size are almost synonomous, but usage
has established certain differences. A sealer is ordinarily a thin
varnish or clear lacquer and is usually applied on wood and
metal surfaces. Ordinary painters size is a thin solution of
glue, starch or other water-soluble substance and is usually
applied on plaster surfaces, but size used in metal decorating is
a thin varnish.

DISCUSSION(1) Specific gravity measurements are generally made

with the test substance and water at the same temperatuer, which should
be 25C for best conformance with Test Method D 1475. This value
multiplied by the density in g/mL of water at 25C (0.997) is the
specific gravity relative to water at 4C and numerically equal to the
density in g/mL of the test substance at 25C, within normal test
precision. (2) Conventionally abbreviated :
25
25
Density25 ~g/mL! 5 Specific Gravity 4 5 Specific Gravity25 3 0.997
(1)
25
Density25 ~lb/gal! 5 Specific Gravity 4 3 8.345

(2)

25
5 Specific Gravity25 3 8.32

spreading ratethe area covered by a unit volume of coating

material frequently expressed as square feet per gallon.
staina discoloration, arising from foreign materials, that
penetrates into the coating.
staina penetrating composition that changes the color of a
surface, usually transparent and leaving practically no surface film.
styrene resinunder resin, synthetic, see styrene resin.
surfacera pigmented composition for filling minor irregularities to obtain a smooth uniform surface preparatory to
applying finish coats; usually applied over a primer and
sandpapered for smoothness.
synthetic paint roller covera cover in which the paint
applicating material is man-made material.
synthetic resinsee resin, synthetic.
talcsee industrial talc and industrial talc, nonasbestos
type.
temporary coatinga coating designed to protect or decorate
a substrate for a limited time that can be readily removed
either by mechanical or chemical means.
thinnerthe portion of a paint, varnish, lacquer, or printing
ink, or related product that volatilizes during the drying
process.
tinta color produced by the mixture of white pigment or
6

D 16
oil varnisha varnish that contains resin and drying oil as
the basic film-forming ingredients and is converted to a solid
film primarily by chemical reaction.
spar varnish a varnish for exterior surfaces. The name
originated from its use on spars of ships.
spirit varnish a varnish that is converted to a solid film
primarily by solvent evaporation.
vehiclethe liquid portion of a paint or printing ink. Anything
that is dissolved in the liquid portion of a paint or printing
ink is a part of the vehicle.
vernonia oila low-viscosity epoxidized drying oil from the
seed of an African plant, Vernonia galamensis, containing
three reactive epoxy groups and three carboncarbon
double bonds per triglyceride molecule and is characterized
by its very low viscosity and melting point.

paint in predominating amount with a colored pigment or

paint, not white. The tint of a color is, therefore, much lighter
and much less saturated than the color itself.
tinting strengththe power of coloring a standard paint or
pigment.
toneran organic pigment that does not contain inorganic
pigment or inorganic carrying base.
undertonethe color of a thin layer of pigment-vehicle
mixture applied on a white background.
urea resinunder resin, synthetic, see urea resin.
urethane coatingscoatings based upon vehicles containing a
minimum of 10 percent by weight (nonvolatile vehicle basis)
of a polyisocyanate monomer reacted in such a manner as to
yield polymers containing any ratio, proportion or combination of urethane linkages, active isocyanate groups, or
polyisocyanate monomer. The reaction products may contain
excess isocyanate groups available for further reaction at
time of application or may contain essentially no free
isocyanate as supplied.
Type I, one-package prereactedurethane coatings characterized by the absence of any significant quantity of free
isocyanate groups. They are usually the reaction product of
a polyisocyanate and a polyhydric alcohol ester of vegetable
oil acids and are hardened with the aid of metallic soap
driers.
Type II, one-package moisture curedurethane coatings
characterized by the presence of free isocyanate groups and
capable of conversion to useful films by the reaction of these
isocyanate groups with ambient moisture.
Type III, one-package heat curedurethane coatings that
dry on cure by thermal release of blocking agents and
regeneration of active isocyanate groups that subsequently
react with substances containing active hydrogen groups.
Type IV, two-package catalysturethane coatings that comprise systems wherein one package contains a prepolymer or
adduct having free isocyanate groups capable of forming
useful films by combining with a relatively small quantity of
catalyst, accelerator, or crosslinking agent such as a monomeric polyol or polyamine contained in a second package.
This type has limited pot-life after the two components are
mixed.
Type V, two-package polyolurethane coatings that comprise systems wherein one package contains a prepolymer or
adduct or other polyisocyanate capable of forming useful
films by combining with a substantial quantity of a second
package containing a resin having active hydrogen groups
with or without the benefit of catalyst. This type has limited
pot-life after the two components are mixed.
Type VI, one-package nonreactive lacquerurethane solution coatings characterized by the absence of any significant
quantity of free isocyanate or other functional groups. Such
coatings convert to solid films primarily by solvent evaporation.
varnisha liquid composition that is converted to a transparent or translucent solid film after application as a thin layer.
bituminous varnisha dark-colored varnish containing bituminous ingredients. The varnish may be either of the oil or
spirit type.

DISCUSSIONIt flows easily even at temperatures below 0C and thus

needs only a fraction of the volatile solvents usually used for other
drying oils. Thus, it can be used as a reactive diluent for high solids
alkyds and epoxy coating formulations.

vinyl resinunder resin, synthetic, see vinyl resin.

volatile thinnersee thinner.
volume percent solidsthe portion of a coating that remains
as part of the dry film expressed as percent by volume.
DISCUSSIONThis contrasts to another convention of expressing
solids content by weight percent. Often a percent is given without
specifying whether it is volume or weight. This is confusing and leads
to errors in coating calculations.

water-based coating, ndeprecated term. Use the preferred

term, waterborne coating.
DISCUSSIONThe term water-based is common usage but is inappropriate since the water evaporates. (Consider oil-based or alkyd-based in
which - based indicates a film component). This term should be
avoided in favor of waterborne.

waterborne coating, na coating in which the principal

volatile constituent is water. See also water-reducible coating.
DISCUSSIONFor government regulatory purposes related to the
analysis of coatings for VOC and water content, if the volatile
constituent contains more than 5 % by weight of water, the coating is
arbitrarily classified by the EPA as waterborne. For a full explanation
refer to: EPA document 450/3-83-013R, Glossary for Air Pollution
Control of Industrial Coating Operations, EPA, Method 24 (40 CFR
PART 60, Appendix A), and ASTM Manual 4 Determination of VOC
Content of Paint, Coatings and Printing Inks.

water paintunder paint, see water paint.

water-reducible coating, na coating that can be reduced in
viscosity by the addition of water.
D01.55
DISCUSSIONAlthough all waterborne coatings are water-reducible,
the reverse is not true because there are industrial coatings that contain
little or no water in their pre-application storage condition, but are
reducible with either water or a suitable organic solvent. Thus prior to
actual reduction with water, a coating of this type might not strictly be
referred to as waterborne, and might never become such. Since the vast
majority of water-reducible coatings are waterborne the latter term
tends to be used inclusively, unless there is a specific need to make a
distinction.

water vapor permeance (WVP), nthe steady state rate of

water vapor movement through a free film induced by a
7

D 16
wet edgethe edge of a wet, painted area that remains
workable for continued painting.

vapor pressure difference (Dr) of one unit between the two

surfaces of the film, where Dr is expressed in inches or
millimetres of mercury. Thus: WVP = WVT/Dr. See WVT.
D1653, CED, D01.23

DISCUSSIONWhen painting large surfaces, it is generally necessary

to join up to the edge of a paint film that has been left to dry for some
period of time. When this can be done by blending this edge with
free-working paint, without any lap mark between the drying and
freshly painted area, the paint is said to present a wet edge.

DISCUSSIONThe unit of permeance is the perm or the metric

perm, thus: perm (U.S., inch-pound unit) = grain per square foot per
hour per inch of Hg (gr/ft2 hin), metric perm (S.I. unit): = gram per
square metre per day per millimetre of Hg (g/m2d mm)
DISCUSSION1 perm (U.S.) = 0.659 metric perms
permsee water vapor permeance, unit of

wet edge extenderhigh boiling liquids such as propylene

glycol added to latex or water-based paints to reduce the
evaporation rate and thereby extend the (open) time that they
are wet enough to brush into.

water vapor transmission (WVT) rate, nthe steady state

rate of water vapor movement through a free film under
specific conditions of temperature and humidity at each
surface; customarily expressed in grains per square foot per
hour (gr/ft2h) or grams per square metre per day (g/m2d).
D1653, CED, D01.23

DISCUSSIONThese wet edge extenders are used to minimize lapping

problems.

wet storage stain (coatings)See white rust.

white rustwhite corrosion products (zinc hydroxide and zinc
oxide) on zinc-coated articles. They form when the parts are
stored so close together that condensed moisture is entrapped
between them and the air circulation is inadequate to assist
drying. Also called wet storage stain. See rust.
zinc-rich primera primer for ferrous metals, incorporating
zinc dust at a concentration sufficient to make the dried film
electrically conductive thus providing cathodic protection to
the ferrous substrate.

DISCUSSION1 gr/ft2 h = 16.74 g/m2 d.

DISCUSSIONCoatings that are too brittle or otherwise unsatisfactory
for handling as free films are sometimes tested on a porous support
surface, although such a support can have an effect on test results.

weight percent solidsthe portion of a coating that remains

as part of the dry film expressed as weight.
DISCUSSIONAnother convention of expressing solids content is by
volume percent.

wet adhesionthe ability of a coating film to adhere tightly to

the substrate directly beneath it under wet conditions such as
rain, dew, washing, etc.

1. Keywords
coating; paint; painting; printing ink; varnish

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your
views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.
This standard is copyrighted by ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above address or at
610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website (www.astm.org).